British racing driver Max Chilton has described his first experience in Formula 1 as "fantastic".

The 21-year-old drove in the first practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix earlier today for Marussia.

After practice, the GP2 race winner told Sky Sports News: "That was fantastic."

"For the first few laps I just had a huge smile on my face and was enjoying every moment, but then I had to settle down and work through the programme the team needed."

"In the second one I started to lose the tyres which Timo [Glock] said he was struggling with as well, but I managed to get a lap together at the end and we were a good three or four tenths up on highest engine setting and I got held up by an HRT car so I didn't get to put the lap in, which is a real shame as I would have been much nearer the pace."

Chilton finished 22nd out of 24 drivers.

Qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix takes place tomorrow at 1pm, with the race at the same time on Sunday.